Retrieval and presentation of contact data at an electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device and method for suggested recipients for a message being composed is described herein. Input of a partial recipient identifier is detected in a recipient identifier entry field of a message composition screen. In response, an initial set of suggested entries is presented, matching the partial recipient identifier. At least one suggested entry is a combination of recipient identifiers specified in a previous message, where at least one recipient identifier of the combination of recipient identifiers matches the partial recipient identifier. The entries may be suggested for either a direct addressee field or an indirect addressee field. Suggested entries may also be suggested based on a match with a subject line input in the message composition screen. As the partial recipient identifier or input subject line is updated or changed, the suggested entries are likewise updated.

1 . A method implemented at an electronic device, the method comprising:
 detecting input of a partial recipient identifier in a recipient identifier entry field of a message composition screen displayed at the electronic device;   in response to detecting the input, presenting an initial set of suggested entries matching the partial recipient identifier for selection for the recipient identifier entry field, the initial set comprising at least one entry having a combination of recipient identifiers specified in a previous message, where at least one recipient identifier of the combination of recipient identifiers matches the partial recipient identifier;   while the initial set of suggested entries is displayed, detecting a change to the partial recipient identifier in the recipient identifier entry field; and   in response to detecting the change, updating the initial set of suggested entries and presenting the updated set of suggested entries in place of the initial plurality of suggested entries.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the initial set of suggested entries comprises filtering the initial set of suggested entries based on the detected change. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated set of suggested entries comprises at least one entry having a combination of recipient identifiers retrieved from a previous message, where at least one recipient identifier of the combination of recipient identifiers matches the changed partial recipient identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recipient identifier entry field comprises a previously-selected recipient identifier, and the previous message specifies the previously-selected recipient as a sender or recipient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting the initial set of suggested entries comprises:
 locating, in at least one data store of the electronic device, one or more sent messages addressed to a recipient identifier matching the partial recipient identifier, and   for each located message addressed to multiple recipient identifiers, obtaining the multiple recipient identifiers and presenting the multiple recipient identifiers as a combination of recipient identifiers in a single entry.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recipient identifier entry field is a Cc: or a Bcc: field of the message composition screen. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the message composition screen includes a To: recipient identifier entry field comprising a previously-selected recipient identifier, and the initial set of suggested entries comprises at least one entry having a combination of recipient identifiers specified in a previous message where the previously-selected recipient identifier is a direct addressee of the previous message. 
     
     
         8 . A method implemented at an electronic device, the method comprising:
 while a message composition screen is displayed at the electronic device, the message composition screen including a subject line entry field comprising entered subject line content and at least one recipient identifier entry field, in response to an instruction to retrieve suggested entries for one of the at least one recipient identifier entry field,
 retrieving from at least one data store a plurality of suggested entries matching the entered subject line content, the plurality of suggested entries including at least one multiple recipient entry, the multiple recipient entry comprising a plurality of recipient identifiers designated as addressees of a message previously sent from an account associated with the electronic device, a subject line of the message previously sent matching the entered subject line content; and 
 displaying the plurality of suggested entries at the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein displaying the plurality of suggested entries occurs when one of the at least one recipient identifier entry field is capable of receiving input, and does not occur when the one of the at least one recipient identifier entry field is not capable of receiving input. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the instruction to retrieve suggested entries comprises detection that the at least one recipient identifier entry field is capable of receiving input. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic device, including:
 at least one input subsystem;   a display; and   at least one processor in communication with the at least one input subsystem and display, the at least one processor being capable of:
 detecting input, via the at least one input subsystem, of a partial recipient identifier in a recipient identifier entry field of a message composition screen displayed at the electronic device; 
 in response to detecting the input, presenting, on the display, an initial set of suggested entries matching the partial recipient identifier for selection for the recipient identifier entry field, the initial set comprising at least one entry having a combination of recipient identifiers specified in a previous message, where at least one recipient identifier of the combination of recipient identifiers matches the partial recipient identifier; 
 while the initial set of suggested entries is displayed, detecting a change to the partial recipient identifier in the recipient identifier entry field; and 
 in response to detecting the change, updating the initial set of suggested entries and presenting the updated set of suggested entries in place of the initial plurality of suggested entries. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein updating the initial set of suggested entries comprises filtering the initial set of suggested entries based on the detected change. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the updated set of suggested entries comprises at least one entry having a combination of recipient identifiers retrieved from a previous message, where at least one recipient identifier of the combination of recipient identifiers matches the changed partial recipient identifier. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the recipient identifier entry field comprises a previously-selected recipient identifier, and the previous message specifies the previously-selected recipient as a sender or recipient. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein presenting the initial set of suggested entries comprises:
 locating, in at least one data store of the electronic device, one or more sent messages addressed to a recipient identifier matching the partial recipient identifier, and   for each located message addressed to multiple recipient identifiers, obtaining the multiple recipient identifiers and presenting the multiple recipient identifiers as a combination of recipient identifiers in a single entry.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the recipient identifier entry field is a Cc: or a Bcc: field of the message composition screen. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the message composition screen includes a To: recipient identifier entry field comprising a previously-selected recipient identifier, and the initial set of suggested entries comprises at least one entry having a combination of recipient identifiers specified in a previous message where the previously-selected recipient identifier is a direct addressee of the previous message. 
     
     
         18 . An electronic device, including:
 at least one input subsystem;   a display; and   at least one processor in communication with the at least one input subsystem and display, the at least one processor being capable of:
 while a message composition screen is displayed at the electronic device, the message composition screen including a subject line entry field comprising entered subject line content and at least one recipient identifier entry field, in response to an instruction to retrieve suggested entries for one of the at least one recipient identifier entry field,
 retrieving from at least one data store a plurality of suggested entries matching the entered subject line content, the plurality of suggested entries including at least one multiple recipient entry, the multiple recipient entry comprising a plurality of recipient identifiers designated as addressees of a message previously sent from an account associated with the electronic device, a subject line of the message previously sent matching the entered subject line content; and 
 displaying the plurality of suggested entries at the electronic device. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein displaying the plurality of suggested entries occurs when one of the at least one recipient identifier entry field is capable of receiving input, and does not occur when the one of the at least one recipient identifier entry field is not capable of receiving input. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the instruction to retrieve suggested entries comprises detection that the at least one recipient identifier entry field is capable of receiving input.